John Davis leaning on desk in his office

Embracing DEI: Keystone of the universal musician

March 21, 2024

In this edition of the Dean’s Downbeat, Dean John Davis doubles down on the College of Music’s commitment to championing diversity, equity and inclusion. “I’m convinced that by embracing DEI as integral to our universal musician mission, we not only achieve flexible, interdisciplinary career options for our graduates, but also expand the artistic landscape and cultivate a community of curious, continuous learners who challenge biases, question assumptions and engage with diverse perspectives—and who navigate nuance and complexity with openness, understanding and empathy.”

Dean John Davis

College of Music announces new bachelor’s degree emphasis

Dec. 14, 2023

As 2023 draws to a close, Dean John Davis reflects on our shared journey at the College of Music and announces a new mission-driven Bachelor of Arts in Music emphasis. Our Bachelor of Arts in Music: Music Production degree will be offered beginning fall 2025!

Dean John Davis

On creating beauty + mission-critical innovations

Oct. 26, 2023

“If there’s a reason to have hope in a world of upheaval and unrest, it’s experiencing a young person openly and courageously sharing their musical gift, including their angst or protest against injustices of all kinds. Beauty lies in their inimitable expression of their truth through music in a range of settings not limited to the concert hall. Beauty underpins our universal musician mission, for music majors and non-majors alike.”

John Davis

Key change

May 10, 2023

In this edition of the Dean’s Downbeat, Dean John Davis offers reflections and a vision for the future as he shares highlights from our newly revamped annual digital magazine—Colorado Music. “...our mission matters more than ever. Because what we do as musicians requires not only skill, but humanity—that is, the simultaneous conveyance of emotion, connection and understanding. Colorado Music takes stock of how far we’ve come.”

John Davis

Walking the talk

March 13, 2023

In this edition of the Dean’s Downbeat, Dean John Davis shares highlights from recent College of Music activities and accomplishments, including his perspective on the significance of our 2023 Annual Distinguished Lectureship: “The research and lived experiences of trailblazers like André de Quadros ignite understanding of this current moment in American and world history—and how diverse, creative communities can help shape, sustain and support a democracy that ensures justice and liberty for everyone.”

Dean John Davis and 鶹ѰPresident Todd Saliman

Announcing a University Medal and increasing diverse representation in music

Dec. 1, 2022

In the final Dean’s Downbeat of the year, Dean John Davis announces Allan McMurray’s 2023 University Medal; describes how the important, prescient work of the Sphinx Organization underscores his vision for the College of Music ... and more.

Tayloe Harding, Dean, University of South Carolina School of Music; John Richmond, Dean, UNT College of Music; and our Dean John Davis.

A mission and a process

Oct. 13, 2022

“The way I see it, developing universal musicians who demonstrate diversity in all forms is both a mission and a process that directly supports and sustains democracy. Our diversity of experiences and abilities, perspectives and opinions, races and ethnicities, and genders and sexual identities enhances our conversation, ignites and expands our awareness, and makes us better when we come together.”

John Davis

Building blocks of human betterment

April 21, 2022

“While there’s no playbook for the unprecedented and the unknowable, by channeling collective despair into collective creativity, we become artistic entrepreneurs, contributing to society in impactful ways.” In this year-end reflection on triumphs over turmoils, Dean Davis offers his perspective on music as essential to human betterment.

DD

Ambition + anchorage

Feb. 24, 2022

In this edition of our monthly Dean’s Downbeat, John Davis reflects on our students’ successes, introduces new violin faculty—welcome, Alex Gonzalez!—and celebrates Susan Thomas’ BFA Excellence Award. Transcending pandemic burnout, “our faculty offer anchorage through their teaching excellence, and their wonderfully consistent artistic achievements as performers, composers and researchers,” he writes.

JD

Remembrance, resilience + forging our future

Jan. 27, 2022

“Even as we bear witness to loss and unknowable challenges with compassion and care, I see us rebounding with resilience again and again—undeterred in our shared quest for excellence, dogged in our pursuit to inform and influence what it means to be a successful, fulfilled creative artist in an increasingly diverse and interdisciplinary musical landscape.”

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